By: Gutierrez H.B. No. 4040 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a pilot program for the establishment of a call center to assist victims of sexual assault. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 411.0210 to read as follows: Sec. 411.0210. STATEWIDE CALL CENTER TO ASSIST SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS. (a) The department shall establish a pilot program for a statewide call center to assist victims of sexual assault. (b) The call center shall maintain a 24-hour statewide toll-free telephone line operated in English and Spanish and staffed by trained employees and volunteers. The call center shall provide information to victims of sexual assault and shall direct victims to appropriate external resources. Information provided to victims of sexual assault may include information on crime victim compensation, forensic examination, and counseling. The call center shall coordinate with other state and local governmental entities and organizations in this state to identify resources available to assist victims of sexual assault. (c) Information held by the call center that identifies a victim of sexual assault is not public information for purposes of Chapter 552, Government Code. (d) Not later than December 31, 2018, the department shall submit a report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and members of the legislature evaluating pilot program. (e) Unless this section is continued in effect by the legislature, this section expires September 1, 2019. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.